Long-Term Health Issues Among Nursing Home Caregivers
Working as a CNA, PCW, or caregiver in a nursing home is one of the most important things you can do to support Southern California’s growing aging population. This population grows every single day, but the amount of younger workers able to provide the around-the-clock care they need is simply not large enough. This means that a smaller pool of workers has to take on an ever-increasing workload, providing hands-on care and support for vulnerable residents.
Unfortunately, this is the ideal setup for workplace injuries. Caretakers are at an extremely high risk of workplace accidents, and when they are inevitably injured, they can pursue workers’ compensation. Struggling with your workers’ compensation claim? It’s time to talk to Pisegna & Zimmerman. We make it easy to start your claim with Zoom meetings and DocuSign for all of your document management needs. Just call us at 818-888-8888 to get started.
Since you work in this industry, you likely already know that you’re at a greater risk of injury than many other working professionals—but perhaps you don’t know just how much danger you’re in. The State of California Department of Industrial Relations maintains data on workplace injuries across different industries. Health care and social assistance as a whole have higher-than-average injury numbers, but the numbers really jump once you look at nursing and residential care facilities. In 2022, there were 10.9 injuries per 10,000 full-time workers in California. Compare that to a rate of 4.2 per 10,000 workers across all industries.
Musculoskeletal Injuries
Musculoskeletal injuries are incredibly common among nursing home workers. Their work is inherently physically demanding, requiring them to lift and transfer patients, assist them with physical therapy exercises, help them to the restroom, and move them around to clean their living area. Even with ambulatory and lifting aids, this job takes a toll on the body. These tasks are repetitive in nature, putting workers at risk of repetitive stress injuries. The work itself requires intense strength and concentration, and it’s very difficult to focus on good form when you are lifting or transferring people dozens of times per day. When improper lifting techniques take over, it’s only a matter of time before musculoskeletal injuries occur.
This type of injury can have a severe negative impact on a caregiver’s life. To start, it can absolutely keep them from carrying out their daily work tasks, often leading to a sudden loss of income if they are forced to step down or take light duty. Outside of the workplace, these injuries can leave caregivers struggling to take care of their families, limiting their activities to manage pain, and overall experiencing a lower quality of life.
Chronic Pain
A shocking number of nursing home aides report chronic pain. Few even report it and instead just learn to live with it, often relying on NSAIDs to get through the work day. Chronic pain commonly affects the parts of the body used most in caregiving work, including the lower back, neck, shoulders, and hips. The later this pain is caught and addressed, the harder it is for caregivers to get the treatment they truly need to maintain mobility and function. There are a number of treatment options, including physical therapy, pain management strategies, pain medications, and occupational therapy.
It’s also important for workplaces to provide support to help caregivers avoid chronic pain. Ergonomic equipment, lifting aids that actually reduce the physical toll on a caregiver’s body, and appropriate patient loads are crucial.
Psychological and Mental Health Concerns
Few jobs are as mentally and emotionally demanding as caregiving. Caregivers often have to watch their patients age and pass away; knowing that it’s inevitable does not make this part of the job easier. On top of that, they may be subject to daily heckling and even abuse from patients if they serve patients with dementia or mental health concerns.
Burnout is a very real risk for anyone working in this field. Most people become caregivers with noble goals of helping an underserved population, only to push themselves beyond their own limits in an effort to provide the best care possible.’
Over time, the demands of this work can lead to serious mental health concerns. Anxiety, depression, compassion fatigue, and other concerns may arise. Caregivers must be encouraged to seek appropriate care as early as possible.
If You’ve Been Injured On the Job, Contact Pisegna & Zimmerman Today
Have you been injured while working at a nursing home or assisted living facility? Let us help you pursue workers’ compensation benefits. Even if you’re seriously injured, it’s easy to get started—we’re able to meet via Zoom and handle all of your documents with DocuSign. Reach out online or call us at 818-888-8888 to get started.
William Zimmerman is an experienced Los Angeles work injury attorney at Pisegna & Zimmerman. He offers invaluable advice and assistance when dealing with the often complicated workers’ compensation system. As part of Pisgena & Zimmerman, he and his team are a full-service law firm that is dedicated to obtaining the maximum amount of compensation from all available sources.